New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-07
NINE PERSONS MURDERED.
A FRIGHTFUL TRAGEDY IN GEORGIA
FARMERS FAMILY BUTcHERED IN THE WIGHT
HIS OWN SON ARRESTED FOR THE CRIME.
rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsE.1

A
HIS OWN SON ARRESTED FOR THE CRIME
fBr TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
MACON, Ca, Aug. 6.-Nne bodies. bespattered with
blood and brains lay in house thirteen miles from
this city this morning. and CHASTITY evidence Of the
most shocking murder ever committed In Georgia In
the hallway, red with blood and clotted with brains
and hair, lay axe with broken handle,
with which the crime had been accomplished
The first news OF deed brought to this city early
this morning by mounted messenger. When the coro-
ner and other county officials reached the scene fully
5000 people were awaiting their coming. more
humble structure than that In which the crime
WAS committed would be difficult to imagine
1t Is a one-story building with long veranda
In front and hallway running through the centre into
which open four rooms. The house Is the property OF
Ricnard T. voolfolk respectable aud welLtodo white
planter On the right on entering is o small
apartment In the Of which Is
sleeping room, which was occupied last night
by the following persons Mrs. West elderly sister
OF Mrs. Voolfolk Pearl. Annie and Rosebud voolfolk,
daughters OF Mr.. and Mrs Voolfolk The sleeping room
on the left OF the entrance occupied by Thomas,
Richard and Charles voolfolk sons OF Mr.. and Mrs
Voolfolk The rear the left was occupied BY Mr.
and Mrs Voolfolk and their youngest child age eighteen
months. A ghastly sight confronted those who first
entered the house after tho discovery OF the
crime. In the last room the father,
mother and infant lay dead In the same
bed Tho manged bodies almost lying across each
other Across the threo bodies slung that OF the
oldest daughter Pearl, recent graduate Of Wesleyan
Female College. with her head beaten to
pulp and her neck and body mutilated
by blows from the sharp blade OF the axe. on
tho floor In the mangled state lay the body
OF the eldest brother. 1t evident that Pearl and
her brother had been awakened by cries during the
bucherng OF their parents and had rushed into tho
room to the cause, only TO share their fate. On
hal in tha
Mrs West also frightfully butchered, her
head crushed to shapeess mass.
ON the same bed lay tho body of Annie voolfolk with
her head split In twain BY the window on the floor lay
the body OF Rosebud Voolfolk with the left side of the
face and head maugled Charles Voolfolk was found
dead Ia his own room.
The crowd stood aghas apparently dumfouuded by the
horrors OF the scene the officials could col
lect their senses steps investigate the crime were
begun T. G. Voolfolk, tho only survivor
a son of Captain Voolfolk by former wife, in the
house at the time OF the murder. From several sGs-
picios circumstances such his bloody footprints on
The floor led the Coroner TO orler MS arrest ne sId
and sound OF blows proceeding from his parents
room His ha-brother Richard ran into the room which
adoned bis. and thinking that murder was being COM
ahd bare and the house OF negro three or
| four hundred yards distant TO get them to arouse
the neighborhord. He says he was afraid to re-
turn. fearing that he himself would 20
murdered; but went back after half an hour No he
had arrived and he went II the family had betn
| murdered He found them all dead. He stepped In
noo of blood In passing and left footprints the hoor
e found his step mother lying that her head was on
the floor and BODY the bed He raised her up ana
nlaced her on the bed. He then changed his clothes
nv this time vd had arrived The evidence before
the Jury was circumsanual throughout The crowd con-
tinued 10 gow size and the indications pointed strong
iy to lynching, sheriff wescott told the jury
10 withhold their verdict until he could get the
prisoners away and then, making all ARRANGEMENTS
sIpped Voolfolk ont OF the house in hurry and drove
away so rapidly that the crowd had hardly time to realize
The Tho prisoner was brought 10 MACON ana
lodged JAIL where he talked of the crime cooy
hn made no admissions. His motive Is said 10 be the
desire 10 gain possession OF his fathers property for HIM
self and two sisters, children Of the first WIFE
The Jury afterward brought In a verdict OK murdor
with voolfolk the perpetrators. subsequently, young
WoofolEs shirt covered with blood, found in the
we'll having to the surface The alleged murderer
"a old and bore bad reputation he
Kant barroom In this city for while, and cheated
and stole right and left He failed twice ana
I'm both Instances his father who II was considered had
estate set him up In business again After
his second failure his father refused 10 longer
hack him aud told him he had squandered
bis norton OF the estate. Young voolfolk grew
rate and married In romantic way Miss Bird In
the none that father would give HIN more His vile
soon quit him because no was unable
TO To- support her and Voolfolk after driv.
ing A street car here for few days went
TO his father engaged to work In the ed for him ~
tbe month IL is said that the other day his father told
him that he done everything bo could Tor him ana
he Intended to provide for his other children 10 MS Will
Yonne voolfolk who has been crank on the subject OF
nherfting his fathers wealth, made threats said
maj be would get possession OF the property HOW ne
nianned and ex executed this scheme has been told.